Police (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 9:07 pm on 10 February 2003.

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Photo of Peter Robinson Peter Robinson DUP, Belfast East 9:07, 10 February 2003

I will save the hon. Gentleman from intervening. Clearly, he does not want to be associated with Brian White. I do not want that to happen, so I should make it clear that I was referring to the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East. I welcome the fact the hon. Gentleman wants to distance himself from the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East.

Clearly, the House has to address the reality that it is about time that Labour Members listened to what Unionist Members are saying about such issues, whether or not it fits in with their own thinking. The elections make it very clear that there is a Unionist majority in Northern Ireland. The census makes it very clear that there will be a Unionist majority in Northern Ireland for a very long time.

Instead of attempting to accommodate small political parties in Northern Ireland, it is about time that the Government listened to the voice of—[Interruption.] The Secretary of State seems to think that I have said something outrageous, but I would challenge Labour Members: if they think that what I am saying is untoward, they might like to stand in elections in Northern Ireland. There is always the possibility that they could go around, trying to recruit, and they could send out the hon. Member for Milton Keynes, North-East to find out how many people he could get to join the Labour party.